Railroad-crossing signal



. BRADY.

RAILROAD CROSSING SIGNAL.

HAMILTON AND 0.-

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5,1921.

Patented 06 -1 Firm-mm F1 ,W 5. f/amf/fon. C. P Brady.

INVENTOR ATTO R N EY WITNESS:

P. BRADY.

Patented Oct S. HAMILTON AND C RAILROAD CROSSING SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED mac, 5

INVENTOR ATTORNEY 3 SHEETSS M. J. Mam/(mu. P. 5mdy WITNESS:

M. S. HAMILTON AND C. P. BRADY.

RAILROAD CROSSING SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED DEC, 5,192 1.

. l gsg mg, Patented 0%.17; 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

6. R Brad 14 INVENTOR WITNESS:

ATTO RN EY Patented. @ct. l? 1922 RAILROAD-CROSSING SIGNAL.

' Application filed December 5, 1921; Serial No. 520,172.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that we, MORGAN SMITH HAMILToN and CHARLES Pn'rrus BRADY, citi- Zens of the United States, residing at Georgetown, in the county of Williamson and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Crossing Signals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signalling devices, particularly to those designed for use along rail-roads, and has: for its object the provision of a signal device designed to be used atgrade crossings and automatically operated upon the approach of a train whereby to give a visible or. audible signal at the crossing which will warn travellers of the approach of a train, the device being thereby calculated to avoid the occurrence of ac cidents.

An important and more specific object is the provision of a signal device which includes a track associated train operated circuit closing device for energizing a bell, flashing light, signal arm or in factany other equivalent or suitable signal device located at the crossing.

Another object is the provision of a device of this character which will be inactive when passed over by a train leaving the crossing but which will automatically operate when the train is approaching the crossing means being furthermore provided for cushioning the shock of the impact of the wheels of the train against the eircuit'operating device.

A further object is the provision of a device of this character which is enclosed so as to prevent gravel, dirt, water andother foreign natter from getting into the working parts of the device and causing derangement thereof. 4

An additional. object is the provision of a signal device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture and installation, highly eliicient in use, positive in action, durable in service'and a general improvement in the art. I i

' lVith the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which, v I

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a track way and a road crossing the same and showing the relative positions of the signal device and the circuit closer.

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the mechanism associated with the track.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough,

Figure & is a plan view,

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view,

Figure 6 is a detail view illustrating a conventional switch connected with the circuit closing device.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view showing the spring support for the movable rail.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the letter A designates a track way and B designates a road crossing which it is desired to protect by means of our signal device to be described. The rails of the track way are designated by the letter C and the ties by the letter D.

In carrying out the invention we provide a circuit closing device which is located in the track way at any desired distance in advance of the crossing B. This circuit closing device comprises an elongated plate 10 which is secured beneath the base of one of the rails C. Suitably bolted against one side of the flange or web of the rail is a longitudinally extending guide 11 while bolted upon the plate 10 are spaced guides 12. Secured upon and rising from the plate 10 near the'ends thereof are cylindrical casings 13 upon which are telescopically engaged caps 14 carrying rollers suitably journaled upon their tops. Located within the casings 13 are coil springs 16 which engage against the underside of the caps 14L as clearly disclosed.

Also secured upon the plate at the central portion thereof is an upstanding bracket 17 formed with a longitudinal bore 18 within which is a movable plunger 19 engaged by a coilspring '20. The numeral'ill designates anelongated bar-like member which is disposed against one side of the rail and which is formed 0 with flanges 22 cooperatively engaging the guides 11 and 12 whereby the bar 21 will be longitudinally movable with respect to the adjacent rail. Near its end portions the bar 21 is inclined as indicated at 23' and the bar is so positioned as to be engaged by the flanges of car wheels passing along the track, the purpose ofthe inclined ends 23 to effect gradual engagement of the The end being car wheel flanges with the bar.

. or a swinging arm or a plunger 28 which engages against the bracket 17 at the side thereof opposite that from which the plunger 19 extends. In order to protect the above described parts against injury by being casually St-FllCli against and also toprevent the dropping in of gravel, dirt, mud, water and the like, we refer to employ a channel shaped guard 29 which is U-shaped in" cross-section and which is disposedover the bar 21 and all the" associated parts, the sides of this guard extending down'and projecting the moving parts of the" device as clearly illustrated.

Located at some convenient location along side the track is a post or other support 30 upon which is mounted some conventional or preferred: type of switch indicated at 31 which includes a stationary contact 32 and a movable contact arm 33. Connected with the arm by 'any'suitablc means isan operating rod 34: which is connected with the guard 29 or with the bar 21 or with both as preferred so that when the bar 21 is moved longitudinally in one direction the arm 33 will be moved into engagement with the contact 32. The contacts 32 and the arm 33 are interposed in a circuit with a suitable source of current 35 and a-preterrcd slgnal device 36 which is located at the crossing B. This signal 36 might be a bell, an electric light in fact any other suitable "or preferred type of element of this character.

The operation of the device is as follows; Ordinarily the bar 21 is in its intermediate position with the rod 34 in such position that the arm 83 will be out of engagement with the contact 32 so that no current will flow through the signal device 36.- When a train comes along the track and approaches the crossing it is apparent that the flanges of the wheelsat one side of the train will engage against the bar 21, the impact moving the bar longitudinally against the resistance of the spring 20 in the bracket 17. If preferred the upper surface of the bar 21,01- the guard 29 if the latter is used, may be longitudinally grooved-to accommodate the usual'sharp edges on the 'fianges-of'the car wheel's. When a train passes over the device and the wheelflanges engage and move the bar 21 it is apparent that the'rod 34 will be correspondingly moved and this will operate to swing the arm 38 into engagement with device designed for the contact 32, thus closing the circuit through the signal device 3-6.v Assuming that the signal is a light, it will be apparent that the light will be flashed on and off and will consequently attract the attention of pedestrians or operators of vehicles approaching the crossing so that they will be suliicicntly warned of the approach of the train. The flagging, is due to the fact that after the wheels of the truck of the car pass over the bar 21 the spring 20 will operate to return the bar 21 temporarily to normal position thus breaking thev engagement between -the arm 33 and'contac't 32; The downward pressure of the wheel flanges upon the bar 21 is taken care of by the springs 16 which are located within the telescopically engagedcasings 13 and caps 15, the latter of which carry the rollers-upon which the loar21 engages'and slides. Assuming that the train is leaving the crossing instead of approaching it will be apparent that there: will be a movement of the rod 34 in the opposite direction but this movement will: notv tend toclose theswitch device but will merely move the army33 'farther'away from the associated contact 32 at thesamc time the spring pressed plunger 28 will serve to absorb the shock and to avoid in jury to any of the parts of the mechanism.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that we have thus provided a simply constructed and consequently inexpensive signal use in connection. with rail roads whereby to give an adequate signal at a road crossing so as to warncall travellers of the approach of a train. Owing to the simplicity of the construction and the fewness of the parts it is apparent that there is very little to get out of order and the device will consequently havea long life and eliic'iently perform all the functions for which it is intended. f I

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention it is of course to be understood that we reserve construction and arrangement of parts as will not departfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

the right to make such'changcs in the form,

Having thus desoribedthe invention we 1 claim; I v

1. In a train operated signal system, a

switch located v:along the track my and means fOI.1I10VlIl-g sai'd switch to circuit closing position, comprising a plate secured upon theunderside of one of the rails, a plurality ofitubular supports rising from said plate and'conta-ining coil springs, a movable rail; disposedat one side of the track rail, members telescopically engaged over said tubular supports and carrying rollersfsupporting said movable rail, said springs opposing downward movement of the movable rail, and spring means for opposing longitudinal movementof the movable rail in either direction.

2. In a train operated signal system, a switch located along the track way and means for moving said switch to circuit closing position, comprising a plate secured upon the underside of one of the rails a plurality of tubular supports rising from said plate and containing coil springs, a movable rail disposed at one side of the track rail, members telescopically engaged over said tubular supports and carrying rollers supporting said movable rail, said springs opposing downward movement of the movable rail, and spring means for opposing longitudinal movement of the movable rail in either direction, consisting of an upright member carried by the plate and formed with a horizontally extending socket, a spring pressed the underside of the movable rail being cut away for the accommodation of said last named support and to define a shoulder engaged by said plunger, the opposite edge of said cut away portion being formed with a socket, and a spring pressed plunger within said second named socket engaging said last named support.

3. In a train operated signal system, a switch located along the track way and means for moving said switch to circuit closing position, comprising a plate secured upon the underside of one of the rails a plurality of tubular supports rising from said plate and containing coil springs, a movable rail disposed at one side of the track rail, members telescopically engaged over said tubular supports and carrying rollers supporting said movable rail, said springs opposing downward movement of the movable rail, and spring means for opposing longieaees plunger within the socket,v

of the movable rail in either direction, bearing flanges at the lower edges ofsaid movable rail, stationary guides engaging said flanges for limiting upward movement while permitting longitudinal and downward movement of the movable rail. 1

i. In a train operated signal system, a switch located along the track way and means for moving said switch to circuit closing position, comprisinga plate secured upon the underside of one of the rails a plurality of tubular supports rising from said. plate and containing coil springs, a movable rail disposed at one side of the track rail, members telescopically engaged over said tubular supports and carrying rollers supporting said movable rail, said springs opposing downward movement of the movable rail, and spring means for opposing longitudinal movement of the movable rail tudinal movement in either direction, consisting of an upright member carried by the plate and formed with a horizontally extending socket, a spring pressed plunger within the socket, the underside of the movable rail being cut away for the accommodation of said last named support and to define a shoulder engaged by said plunger, the opposite edge of said cut away portion being formed with a socket, and a spring in said second named socket engaging said last named support, and a channel. shaped shield extending longitudinally of the movable rail and having depending sides covering said cut away portion and spring pressed plungers.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

MORGAN SMITH HAMILTON. CHARLES PETTUS BRADY.

pressed plunger with- 

